Computer Virus

1.WHAT IS A COMPUTER VIRUS?

A computer virus is simply a set of computer instructions or computer code that is written by some unscrupulous person.It is designed to spread from one computer to another and to interfere with computer operation. A virus might corrupt or delete data on a computer, or even erase everything on a hard disk.

2.HOW DOES A COMPUTER GET VIRUS?

Two of the most common ways viruses and worms get onto your computer are when files are copied to a computer from e-mail attachments and peer-to-peer file sharing networks or when a worm exploits a vulnerability in an operating system because it is not updated with the latest Windows Update patches.

• Malware Received from Copied Files - Every time you copy a file to your computer you can potentially get a virus or worm. Since the Internet makes it very easy to copy files from one computer to another, viruses have spread more easily as the Internet has become more popular. Most viruses or worms get on your computer from e-mail attachments. Whenever you open an e-mail attachment, you are basically copying the attachment to your computer first and then opening it, which makes it an easy way to spread viruses. Even if you trust the source of the e-mail, they may not know the file they are sending you is infected. Anytime you download a file (for example by using peer-to-peer file sharing programs), the downloaded file can contain malware.

• Malware Received Due to an “Unpatched” Windows Operating System - If your computer is connected to the Internet and does not have all of the latest updates for your Windows operating system installed, it can be vulnerable to worms without even downloading anything. That is why having your Windows Automatic Updates turned on is so important.

3.TOP 3 VIRUS AND WHAT IT DOES?

1. The John Kerry Virus-Stores data on both sides of the disk and causes little purple hearts to appear on screen

2. The George Bush VIRUS-Causes your computer to keep looking for viruses of mass destruction.

3. The Clinton Virus - Gives you a permanent Hard Drive with NO memory.

SOURCE:http://www.forum.avast.com